Curtis Hanson, the Oscar winner who transformed James Ellroy’s sprawling crime opus L.A. Confidential into one of the most taut noir films of the last 20 years, has died. According to Variety, he was 71.

Directed a number of good films (The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Wonder Boys, 8 Mile, In Her Shoes), as well as L.A. Confidential, which is amazing.